Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex

Azerbaijan is one of the few countries in the world exceptionally rich in mud volcanoes, and this natural phenomenon is regarded as one of the most distinctive elements of the nation’s natural heritage. Of the more than 2,000 mud volcanoes known worldwide, around 30 per cent - nearly 400 - are located within Azerbaijan’s territory.

These volcanoes are found predominantly on the Absheron Peninsula, across the Baku archipelago, in the Shamakhi and Gobustan districts, the south-eastern Shirvan region, and within the waters of the Caspian Sea.

Mud volcanoes are a geologically unique natural phenomenon. Their activity brings mud, gases and mineral-rich material from deep underground layers to the surface. Many of Azerbaijan’s mud volcanoes remain active and erupt periodically, a feature that makes them of particular interest for both scientific research and tourism.

To enable visitors to observe these rare natural formations at close range and learn more about them, the Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex has been established approximately 80 kilometres from Baku. Covering 12 hectares and surrounded by active mud volcanoes, the complex offers direct access to this remarkable landscape.

Within the site lies the “Gilinj” mud volcano, composed of eight aligned cones. The breccia - coarse, fragmented rock material - emitted from the volcano spreads across a wide area.

The complex also features an exhibition dedicated to Azerbaijan’s geological heritage, a natural history display of animal skeletons representing local and global fauna, and a collection showcasing natural minerals.